Multipurpose square



y 1969 A. L. IAMS 3,456,353

MULTIPURPOSE SQUARE Filed Nov. 7, 1967 llll ll lllllllllllllllllllllullllll!IIIIAITIHIIIHHHIl I Aaron L lams IN lIiN'I'OK.

BY Mm mas aw United States Patent 3,456,353 MULTIPURPOSE SQUARE Aaron L. Iams, 410 Howard Ave., Billings, Mont. 59102 Filed Nov. 7, 1967, Ser. No. 681,214 Int. Cl. B431 7/00 US. Cl. 33-112 -8 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE This measuring tool features unique self-contained capabilities. It serves carpenters, mechanics and others in lieu of a try-square, a bevel-square, or a combinationsquare. Because it is multipurpose it enables the user to expeditiously but accurately ascertain, plan, lay out and scribe right angles, forty-five degree angles and inbetween angles, polygon tangles, roof pitches or rises in an inches-per-foot run as required in rafter cutting. It serves for depth scribing needs, door and doorsill work, and on almost any construction job where measuring squares are customarily used.

This invention relates to a manually usable tool capable of diversified use on any number of construction and other jobs and which, while expressly designed and adapted for use by carpenters and mechanics, lends itself to practical use by anyone acquainted with and accustomed to using squares such as, for example, a try-square, a bevel-square or what is commonly designated as a combination square.

One objective of the present invention is to provide a simple and feasible multipurpose tool or instrument which is characterized, generally speaking, by two integrated component parts. One part comprises a leg which in and of itself is provided on at least one surface with spaced parallel selectively usable linear scales and which provides inward and outward straight edges for measuring, scribing and layout purposes. This leg is provided on one longitudinal edge, preferably the inward straight edge, with an integral outstanding substantially triangular head. The head is also provided on the upwardly disposed surface with appropriately graduated and selectively usable scales.

Stated somewhat more specifically, the concept hasto do with the aforementioned leg which resembles an ordinary 12-inch straight rule or ruler. This leg is provided with mechanically retained slot-guided button-type limit stop means capable of lengthwise adjustment in amanner that it cooperates with coordinating graduations on either of the aforementioned scales. The head, too, is pro-' vided with slot means which serves to accommodate mechanically retained slot-guided button-type limit stop means which is a duplicate of the first-named stop means and which can be adjusted alone or in combination with the first-named stop means and with said respective stop means capable of abutting marginal tool-positioning surfaces of a workpiece.

Briefly, the slot means in the aforementioned leg is positioned midway between the respective straight edges of the leg or blade and is substantially commensurate in length with the length of the leg and is properly related to the graduated scales which range along opposite lengthwise sides thereof. The limit stop means is guidingly and clampingly mounted in the slot provided therefor in said leg. The triangulate head at one end of the leg or blade provides a first straight edge which is fiush with a cooperating transverse end of the leg or blade, also provides a diagonal second straight edge for mitering and othes purposes. A diagonal slot of requisite length is parallel to the second straight edge and is formed in the 3,456,353 Patented July 22, 1969 head and provided along opposite edges with a graduated scale for polygons on one side and a second scale for degrees in a manner to cooperate with the limit stop means which is adjustably keyed in the second-named slot.

These together with other objects and advantages which will become subsequently apparent reside in the details of construction and operation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

FIG. 1 is a view in perspective of a multipurpose measuring, planning and layout scale constructed in accordance with the principles of the invention and showing all of the essential or primary component parts and features and also showing the aforementioned adjustable limit stop means or buttons at the so-called zero ends of the respectively cooperating slots.

FIG. 2 is a top plan view of the square shown in FIG. 1 and which illustrates the features appearing in FIG. 1 on a slightly larger and more easily readable scale.

FIG. 3 is an edge elevational view wherein the limit stop means in the slotted head is shown in order to bring out the top button and also the underneath adjusting and clamping nut.

FIG. 4 is an enlarged detail view of one of the limit stop devices or means taken approximately on the plane of the line 4-4 of FIG. 2 looking in the direction of the arrows.

FIG. 5 is a top plan view which shows one limit stop device adjusted in the leg or blade slot and abutting an edge of a workpiece with the other limit stop means at its zero point but also abutting the same edge of the workpiece, wheerby to locate the desired straight edges atop the workpiece for whatever measuring or scribing purposes that may be desired.

And FIG. 6 is a view in perspective on an appropriately enlarged scale showing the aforementioned button with the screw or shank omitted.

Referring now to the views of the drawings, singly and collectively, the over-all tool or instrument is characterized by a one-piece body which in turn is made up of two primary component parts; namely, a ruler-like leg or blade which is denoted generally by the numeral 8 and a complemental as well as companion integral head which is denoted by the numeral 10. The leg resembles, as already stated, a 12-inch straight rule or ruler such as is commonly known. This part is also referred to as a leg as well as a blade and is rectangular in plan and flatfaced and has an elongated outward straight edge 12 provided inwardly thereof with a properly graduated 12- inch scale which may be conveniently differentiated as a first scale 14. The inward longitudinal straight edge is denoted at 16 and may if desired be provided with an appropriately graduated scale denoted generally at 18. One transverse end of the blade is denoted at 20 and the other transverse end is denoted at '22. Inwardly of the straight edge 16 there is a second inch-type scale which is conveniently diiferentiated as a second scale as at 24. Extending substantially commensurate with the length of the blade and centrally located between the respective scales 14 and 24 is an elongated straight keying and adjusting slot 26. The head 10 is triangulate in plan, substantially imperforate and projects from one end portion of the blade or leg and it has a first straight edge 28- (FIG. 2) which is flush with the terminal end 22 and which has an appropriately graduated companion scale at 30. This head also has an oblique-angled marginal edge which is here designated as a second straight edge as at 32 and this straight edged portion of the head is provided with an oblique-angled elongated slot 34 which is substantially commensurate in length with the straight edge 32 and which is provided along one edge with a suitably graduated scale 36 which is identified as polygons. There is another selectively usable and appropriately graduated scale at 38 which is designated as a degrees scale. Then, too, it will be noted that there is still another suitably graduated scale which is conveniently denoted, generally speaking, by the numeral 40 and which is parallel with the aforementioned slot 26 and which is employed when called upon to ascertain and determine roof pitches or rises in inches-per-foot run such as required in rafter cutting, scribing and depth requirements and the like.

The aforementioned adjustable and manually regulable limit stop devices are designated at 42 and 44 respectively. Each device is also referred to for convenience of description as limit stop means. Actually these devices are the same in construction and a description of one will sufiice for both devices. Keeping in mind that the means or device 42 is cooperable with the slot 26 in the leg and that the device 44 is cooperable with the slot 34 in the triangulate head attention is directed to FIGS. 4 and 6 in particular and wherein it will be seen that the knob or button is circular in plan and is denoted by the numeral 46 and is provided with one or more indicating markers one of which is shown for example at 48 in FIG. 6. These markers are at right angles to and when paired are diametrically opposite each other and cooperate with the elongated keying rib 50. This rib is slidable but not rotatable in the slot in which it is located as brought out in FIG. 4. The marginal edge is preferably knurled as at 52. A headed screw 54 is threadedly mounted in the button and extends through and beyond a screw-threaded hole 56 (FIG. 6). Thus the shank portion 58 is so located through and beyond the slot that it serves to accommodate the knurled adjusting and clamping nut 60 and the wear resisting Washer 62.

It is evident that the devices 42 and 44 are referred to as selectively and collectively usable limit stop means as well as positioning, setting and tool locating buttons. They are capable of use in the manner shown in FIG. 5 and in many other ways. Normally, however, one can assume that these buttons or devices 42 and 44 are located at the respective terminal ends of their slots 26 and 34 or at zero points as illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2 respectively.

When both indicator buttons are at the top as illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2 they are considered as located at zero points. To find the desired angle cuts for a five-sided polygon, the button or device 42 is located at zero. Then, slide the button 44 until the indicator mark thereon matches the numeral 5 on the polygon scale 36. By tightening the nut the polygon angle can and will be found on the outer edge of the 12-inch leg or blade 8. Likewise, if the indicator mark is matched with any of the degree marks or graduations on the scale 38 the desired angle will be found on the outer straight edge of the blade or leg which sometimes requires reversing the square (not shown) and using even a second scale for that purpose (not shown). With respect to rafter cuts, with the button 44 at zero the user can slide the other button 42 along its slot until the indicator mark matches the graduation on the scale. This is shown in FIG. 5 wherein the workpiece is denoted at A with one edge at B with which the properly adjusted buttons or limit stop devices 42 and 44 are shown engaging the edge C. The top surface of the workpiece is denoted at D and this in use supports the blade and head portions of the over-all tool to accomplish the result shown and described. In order to get depth measurements or to scribe, the user simply slides the button or device 42 along the slot in the blade or leg to the desired position and secures the same with a thumb nut. It is obvious that this multipurpose adjustable button-equipped one-piece square is diversified in character and like other measuring tools and squares is capable of use according to the job at hand and according to the skill of the carpenter, mechanic or other user. For this reason it will be evident that the novelty resides in the construction and arrangement of coacting parts and that a more detailed description of the mode of usage is unnecessary.

The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

1. For use by carpenters, mechanics and for general utility purposes and in lieu of a try-square, a bevel-square, or a combination-square; a manually usable multipurpose measuring tool comprising, an elongated flat-faced leg having inward and outward parallel longitudinal straight edges joined at their respective ends by transverse edges disposed at right angles to said longitudinal edges, at least one fiat face of said leg having individual 12-inch ruletype scales presented for use along and bordering each longitudinal edge, said leg being provided at one end with an integral head, said head projecting beyond an oriented end portion of said inward longitudinal edge, being triangulate in plan, having fiat faces which are coplanar with the corresponding fiat faces of said leg, said head having a first straight edge at right angles to the longitudinal straight edges of said leg and flush with the adjacent transverse end edge of said leg and also having a second straight edge disposed at an angle of forty-five degrees to said inner longitudinal edge, the median portion of said leg being provided with a lengthwise slot, said slot being situated midway between the respective linear scales and being substantially coextensive with the length of said leg and parallel with said inward and outward straight edges, limit stop means comprising a button having an assembling rib removably and slidingly keyed in said slot, said button having a screwthreaded stud extending through and beyond said slot and provided with an assembling and retaining nut clampingly cooperable with an adjacent surface of said leg.

2. The measuring tool defined in and according to claim 1, and wherein the graduations of one scale conform in position and relationship to a regular 12-inch rule scale and the graduations of the other scale are incrementally the same as those of a regular 12-inch scale but are staggered and laterally offset in relation to the graduations embodied in said first named 12-inch rule scale, whereby said scales are selectively usable.

3. The measuring tool defined in and according to claim 2, and wherein said scales are displayed for use on an upper normally usable face of said leg and wherein the corresponding upper face of said head is provided with a separate scale bordering and presented for use just inwardly of the first straight edge of said head and whose graduations are incremented for linear measuring needs.

4. The measuring tool defined in and according to claim 1, and wherein said head is likewise provided with an elongated slot which is parallel with said second straight edge and is accordingly at an angle of forty-five degrees relative to said inward longitudinal edge, and limit stop means corresponding to said first-named limit stop means and likewise operatively mounted in said second-named slot, the respective limit stop means being individually and conjointly usable and operable contingent on the requirements of the job at hand.

5. The measuring tool defined in and according to claim 1, and wherein said button has an accessible and constantly viewable circular top surface which is flat and is provided with a single radial index which constitutes a marker and is registrable step-by-step with the prescribed graduations on said scale.

6. The measuring tool defined in and according to claim 4, and wherein the limit stop means therein stated also embodies a circular button having a fiat constantly viewable surface, said surface having a pair of radial diametrieally opposite indices which constitute position setting markers, said markers being selectively usable, alignable and progressively registrable with graduated scales bordering the inward and outward longitudinal marginal edges of said forty-five degree slot.

7. For use by carpenters, mechanics and for general utility purposes and in lieu of a try-square, a bevel-square, or a combination-square; a manually usable multipurpose measuring tool comprising, a one-piece implement embodying an elongated fiat-faced leg having inward and outward parallel longitudinal straight edges joined at their respective ends by transverse edges disposed at right angles to said longitudinal edges, said leg being provided at one end only with an integral head, said head projecting beyond an oriented end portion of said inward longitudinal edge, being triangulate in plan, having fiat faces which are coplanar with the corresponding fiat faces of said leg, said head having a first straight edge at right angles to the longitudinal straight edges of said leg and flush with the adjacent transverse end edge of said leg and also having a second straight edge disposed at an angle of forty-five degrees to said inner longitudinal edge, said leg having a longitudinal straight slot midway between said inward and outward straight edges, said head also having a straight longitudinal slot spaced from but parallel with the second straight edge on said head, said head being otherwise imperforate, first limit stop means slidingly and adjustably keyed in said first-named slot, and second limit stop means slidingly and adjustably keyed in said second-named slot.

8. The measuring tool defined in claim 7, and wherein each limit stop means comprises a circular button having a knurled marginal edge, having at least one clearly visible indicating marker, and also having a fixed axial screwthreaded stud projecting through and beyond the cooperating slot and provided with an adjusting, clamping and retaining nut.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 639,125 12/1899 Winnett 33-92 X 784,079 3/1905 Stempel 33-96 985,950 3/1911 Smith 3392 1,118,067 11/1914 Smith 331 12 HARRY N. HAROIAN, Primary Examiner U.S. Cl. X.R. 

